Qualcomm’s new, customised Snapdragon AR processor will power future AR glasses from Microsoft and the companies also plan to integrate software like Microsoft Mesh and Snapdragon Spaces XR Developer Platform.
Both companies are enthusiasts of the metaverse – an extensive online world that combines both virtual and physical spaces in which people are able to interact via digital avatars – and Qualcomm’s head of XR Hugo Swart noted that the collaboration” reflects the next step in both companies’ shared commitment to XR and the metaverse.”
Ruben Caballero, corporate vice president of Mixed Reality at Microsoft added: “Our goal is to inspire and empower others to collectively work to develop the metaverse future – a future that is grounded in trust and innovation.”
“With services like Microsoft Mesh, we are committed to delivering the safest and most comprehensive set of capabilities to power metaverse that blend the physical and digital worlds,” he added.
Sony’s CEO Jim Ryan meanwhile also announced its newest headset at CES 2022, named the PS VR2.
The PS VR2 will work with the PS5, and “with the headset on and controllers in hand, players will feel a heightened range of sensations unlike any other.”
The VR hand controllers, aka the Sense controllers, support haptic feedback, whilst the actual headset includes eye tracking, 4K HDR, 90/120Hz frame rate, foveated rendering, and a field of view of 110 degrees. Plus, it connects to the PS5 with a single USB-C cable.
There is no release date or pictures of the Sony headset yet.